2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Level guard draft tiers

The 2024-25 NBA season is quick approaching, so at the side of my latest points and category rankings dropping, let’s dig into my position-by-position tiers, beginning with the purpose guards.

NOTE: Just some gamers may have evaluation when listed within the tiers under. Gamers with multi-position eligibility will solely seem within the positional tier the place they performed probably the most minutes final season or are projected to play this season.

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There are completely different flavors of level guards to focus on — the excessive factors + assists guys within the first three rounds and ones who’re environment friendly, rebound nicely and/or generate extra shares. With the league so guard-centric, it pays to prioritize grabbing a high-usage level guard early as a result of assists turn out to be scarce after Tier 4. After all, you’ll be able to choose to punt assists and goal the score-first kind guards who can assist you lean into different classes of curiosity.

Tier 1: The elites

1. Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

2. Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

These two MVP candidates are a head above different PGs. Luka is a 30-point triple-double risk each night time and made strides in flattening free throws and upping his steal charge final yr. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a flawless fantasy PG as a result of he checks each field for stat manufacturing. He is among the finest blocking guards and is as environment friendly as they arrive. Each needs to be top-five picks in each format.

Tier 2: 20 & 10 potential

1. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

3. James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

• Haliburton is the odds-on favourite to steer the league in assists, and his effectivity, protection and scoring make him close to elite standing. The one issues capping his ceiling are accidents and, sometimes, Pascal Siakam.

• Trae Younger was the one participant to common at the least 25 factors and 10 assists final season. With Dejounte Murray gone and Atlanta caught in impartial, Younger will put up massive numbers in his seventh season.

• James Harden is among the largest risers of the offseason. Paul George‘s departure and Kawhi Leonard‘s well being put Harden ready to thrive in fantasy. Harden ought to revert to a much more aggressive offensive strategy. Age apart, he is a late-first, early second-round decide.

Tier 3: All-Star caliber anchors

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

3. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

4. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

5. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

6. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

7. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

8. Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

• Stephen Curry has a protected ground at 26-5-5 and stays a class winner in 3s and free-throw share.

• LaMelo Ball carries appreciable damage danger, however he has one of many highest ceilings on this tier. He lastly agreed to wear ankle braces, so getting a wholesome LaMelo within the mid-to-late second might be good worth.

• Lillard’s first season with the Bucks did not go nicely, and his ADP sits close to the tail finish of the second spherical. He is completed as a top-20 participant in three of his final 4 seasons, averaging at the least 24/4/7 over that span. Just like Curry, he can anchor 3s and FT%. Some improved effectivity from the sector will convey him proper again to his top-20 expectations.

• Do not be involved about Brunson’s position or utilization dip; he is the alpha of a championship contender. His heavy minutes and manufacturing make him a top-30 participant.

• Tyrese Maxey will probably fall to the third spherical, and that is excellent. Including Paul George ought to assist his effectivity and he may flirt with being the following 50/40/90 man.

• Breakout alert for Cade Cunningham. He is by no means completed within the prime 80 on a per-game foundation, however with a re-tooled roster and extra competent teaching workers, Cunningham may have his greatest season. The highest-50 season is coming!

Tier 4: PGs with one thing to show

1. Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans

2. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

3. Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

4. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

5. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Dejounte Murray is within the driver’s seat of a fairly stacked NO lineup. I have been in step with my views of him, and he offers a safe floor counting stats-wise.

• Few have extra to show this season than Ja Morant and I would roll the cube on him by the fourth spherical. He is a wonderful stat stuffer for factors leagues however suits nicely with punt-turnover or punt-free-throw builds in class codecs.

• One other breakout candidate is Immanuel Quickley. In 25 video games with Scottie Barnes within the lineup, he averaged 17/4/6 with 41/42/82 capturing splits. He is locked in for a profession yr because the full-time starter in a fantasy-friendly teaching scheme.

• I would draft Jamal Murray if he falls, however I am involved about his well being. He seemed horrible within the NBA Playoffs and the Paris Olympics, so hopefully, he’ll be 100% by the beginning of the season.

Tier 5: Slept on PGs

1. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics

3. Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

4. Coby White, Chicago Bulls

• D’Lo has been a prime 60 participant in three straight seasons, and his ADP remains to be within the late 70s. He is a worth.

• Jalen Suggs made strides in his third NBA season, elevating his 3-point share to 39.7% and capturing All-Defensive second-team honors. Markelle Fultz is gone, so he steps into the PG duties for an ascending Magic squad. He is on observe to publish a career-high in assists, and when factoring within the 3s and inventory potential, he is undervalued.

• I’ve Coby White slotted because the Bulls’ beginning PG, however we’ll see what Billy Donovan has in retailer come coaching camp. White loved a breakout marketing campaign final yr and is among the few gamers Chicago plans to construct round for the long run. He is a strong goal if you happen to’re punting shares or FG%.

Tier 6: PGs with ADPs close to 100

1. Terry Rozier, Miami Heat

2. Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs

3. Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies

4. Tyus Jones, Phoenix Suns

5. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

6. Mike Conley, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Chris Paul and Wemby? I am with it. I believe we’ll see Paul’s steals enhance to 1.5 per sport with half-hour and you understand what he offers from an help perspective. Low-end double-double enchantment round decide 100.

• It is evident that Keyonte George has the best upside amongst gamers going round decide 100. His inefficiencies damage his worth, however going into Yr 2, I count on some development as he begins from day one.

Tier 7: Mixture of the previous and new PGs

1. Russell Westbrook III, Denver Nuggets

2. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

3. Malcolm Brogdon, Washington Wizards

4. Dennis Schroder, Brooklyn Nets

5. Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets

6. Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

• I type of like Russ in Denver. They want a two-guard, and Nikola Jokić‘s request for his companies means one thing. Will he be environment friendly? No, however he is fantastic for factors leagues and serviceable in class leagues for the counting stats or if you happen to’re punting effectivity classes or 3s.

• Early depth charts have Dyson Daniels backing up Trae Younger at level guard, so whereas I like him as a sleeper, his utilization and position are undefined. There is not a lot guard depth, so I am penciling him in as a late-rounder who can rebound nicely for a guard, get dimes and steals. His shot seemed good in Paris, however I am not anticipating a stark enhance in effectivity.

• I will not be drafting Ben Simmons, and better of luck to anybody who does. He’ll both be a heist at his ADP or an entire dud.

• I am most likely too low on Scoot, contemplating what he can do from a scoring and help perspective, however the capturing splits will likely be powerful to abdomen. He additionally would not provide a lot for shares and 3s. I am good with shifting him up a few tiers for factors leagues, however he is nonetheless extra of a late-round man.

Tier 8: Valued backup PGs

1. Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

2. Miles McBride, New York Knicks

3. De’Anthony Melton, Golden State Warriors

4. Delon Wright, Milwaukee Bucks

5. T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

6. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

7. Kevin Porter Jr., Los Angeles Clippers

• Payton Pritchard presumably has the sixth-man position locked up till Kristaps Porziņģis returns. He is averaged over 11/4/4 when taking part in 20-29 minutes all through his profession, so there’s late-round enchantment right here. Pritchard is a man who’s shifting up my draft boards.

• Deuce McBride offers strong Brunson insurance coverage. The four-year professional had stretches late within the 2023-24 season the place he went off for fantasy managers. He averaged 17/3/4 as a starter final yr.

• Spurs rookie Stephon Fort is in a super place to study from the Level God, and if CP3 goes down, Fort is subsequent up. With nice measurement (6-foot-6) for the PG place and distinctive defensive instincts, he’ll be fantasy-relevant at factors all through the season.

Tier 9: Rotational, non-fantasy related PGs

1. Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic

2. Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

3. Kyle Lowry, Philadelphia 76ers

4. Robert Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves

5. Monte Morris, Phoenix Suns

6. Kris Dunn, Los Angeles Clippers

7. Carlton Carrington, Washington Wizards

8. Bones Hyland, Los Angeles Clippers

9. Cameron Payne, New York Knicks

10. Reggie Jackson, Philadelphia 76ers

Tier 10: Out-of-rotation PGs

1. Davion Mitchell, Toronto Raptors

2. Tre Jones, San Antonio Spurs

3. Jevon Carter, Chicago Bulls

4. Killian Hayes, Brooklyn Nets

5. Devonte’ Graham, Portland Path Blazers

6. Markelle Fultz, Free Agent

7. Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls